Endocrine Abstracts

A role for local corticosteroid metabolism by 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11b-HSD1) has been proposed in bone and adipose tissue physiology. In vivo, 11b-HSD1 predominantly converts inactive cortisone to active cortisol and enzyme activity is critically dependent on substrate concentration. To examine 11b-HSD1 activity in vivo we have analysed the relationship between serum cortisone and markers of bone turnover, BMD and adipose tissue mass in a c...

Increased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in men of low birthweight may be an important link between early life events and adult metabolic syndrome. In animal models females are more sensitive to HPA axis programming by manipulations in utero, but whether gender influences susceptibility in humans is unknown.We studied 106 women aged 67-78 y, from Hertfordshire UK, in whom birthweight was recorded. None had pituitary or adrenal disease or were rec...

Growth hormone (GH) has profound anabolic effects on bone, but its use as a treatment for patients with osteoporosis has only resulted in small increases in BMD. The low serum IGF-I demonstrated in men with idiopathic osteoporosis may be important in the aetiology of this disease and has been attributed to GH hypo-secretion, though there are conflicting reports of this. Insensitivity to the actions of GH has also been suggested. We studied the GH-IGF-I axis in otherwise health...